APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 79 
[Inclosure 1 in No. 40.] 
The Marquis of Lansdowne to Sir H. Holland. 
GOVERNMENT Howse, Yoronto, May 21, 1887. 
Sir: With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the seizure of 
Canadian sealing schooners in Behring’s Sea, I have the honour to forward herewith 
a copy of an approved Minute of the Privy Council, concurring in a Report of my 
Minister of Marine and Fisheries, and recommending that the attention of Her 
Majesty’s Government be calied to the grave injustice done by the United States 
authorities to British subjects peaceably pursuing their lawful occupations on the 
high seas, to the delay which has taken placein inquiring into and redressing wrongs 
committed, to the severe, inhospitable, and unjustifiable treatment of the officers 
and crews of the vessels seized, and to the serious loss inflicted upon owners of the 
same, in order that full and speedy reparation may be made by the United States 
Government. 
Ihave, &ce. 
(Signed) LANSDOWNE. 
[Inclosure 2 in No. 40.] 
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council for Canada, approved by his 
Excellency the Governor-General in Council on the 16th May, 1887. 
On a Report dated the 9th May, 1887, from the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, 
submitting the following résumé of facts, with a reference to the Canadian sealing 
schooners ‘‘Carolina,” ‘‘Onward,” and ‘‘Thornton,” seized by the United States 
Revenue cutter ‘‘Corwin,” in Behring’s Sea in the year 1886. 
The above-named vessels fitted out at Victoria, British Columbia, for seal hunting 
iu the waters of the Pacific Ocean, adjacent to Queen Victoria Islands, Queen Char- 
lotte Islands, and Alaska. x 
At the time of seizure (1st and 2nd August, 1886) they were at a distance of more 
than 60 miles from the nearest land. They were taken possession of by the United 
States cutter, and towed to the port of Oonalaska, where they were detained. 
The crews of the “Carolina” and “Thornton,” with the exception of the captain 
and one man detained at Oonalaska, were sent by steamer to San Francisco, and 
there turned adrift, while the crew of the “Onward” was kept at Oonalaska. 
At the time of the seizure, the ‘‘Carolina” had on board 686 seal-skins, the 
“Onward” 900, and the ‘‘Thornton” 404. These, as well as the schooners are, so 
far as the Minister is aware, still at Oonalaska, in possession of the United States 
authorities. 
The master and mate of the “‘Thornton” were brought for trial before Judge 
62 Dawson, in the United States District Court at Sitka, on the 30th August, 
1886. The evidence given by the officers of the United States Revenue cutter 
went to show that this vessel was seized for the oftence of taking seals in that por- 
tion of Behring’s Sea ceded to the United States by Russia in 1867, being then at a 
distance of from 60 to 70 miles from St. George’s Island. 
The Judge charged the jury to the effect that, if they believed the defendants to 
have been sealing in the Behring Sea, east of the 193rd degree of longitude west, 
they should bring in a verdict of ‘‘ Guilty,” and assess separate fines or imprisonment. 
The jury brought in a verdict of ‘‘ Guilty.” 
The master of the ‘‘ Thornton” was sentenced to thirty days’ imprisonment, and 
to pay a fine of 500 dollars, and the mate to thirty days’ imprisonment and a fine of 
300 dollars. The masters and mates of the ‘“‘Onward” and ‘‘ Carolina” were mulcted 
in similar penalties. 
On the 25rd and 24th September, 1886, Orders in Council were approved by his 
Excellency, the Governor-General, setting forth the above facts, and representing 
the injustice to which Canadian citizens engaged in a peaceable and lawful occupation 
on the high seas had been subjected, in spite of admitted principles of international 
law, and in direct opposition to the United States contention of what constitutes 
common waters on the Atlantic coasts, and copies thereof were forwarded to Her 
Majesty’s Government, with a request that immediate reparation be demanded from 
the United States Government. 
On the 12th November, 1886, Mr. Bayard informed Sir L. West that he was awaiting 
full and authentic reports of the trial and Judgment in the cases of these seizures 
before further discussing the matter. 
On the 8th January, 1887, the Earl of Iddesleigh addressed Sir L. West, deprecat- 
ing the delay which had taken place in securing the particulars, calling upon him to 
urge, with all the force which the gravity of the oases demanded, the immediate 
